[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E687-E688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            YOUTH ART MONTH

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                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 1995
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, we will soon celebrate 
Youth Art Month, an opportunity for our Nation to recognize the special 
role art can play in enriching the lives of children.
  Artistic expression is one of the things which distinguishes us as 
human beings. By offering children the opportunity to express feelings 
and thoughts through creative expression, we offer them the opportunity 
to reach their full potential. While all of us may not have the talent 
of a DaVinci or a VanGogh, we have potential to express and enrich 
ourselves through art. Children in particular can learn much from 
education in the arts. They can learn about themselves and about the 
world around them.
  What President Kennedy said of poetry is true of the value of all 
forms of artistic expression, ``poetry [is] the means of saving power 
from itself. When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him 
of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of a man's concern, 
poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When 
power corrupts, poetry cleanses. For art establishes the basic human 
truth which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment.''
  For these reasons, I commend Youth Art Month for the way it is 
enriching the lives of children today across America. I hope all 
Americans will take a little extra time next month to appreciate the 
contribution art makes to our national life.

[[Page E688]]

                    A TRIPLE-A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

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                          HON. BILL RICHARDSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 1995
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, as the chaos of major league baseball's 
labor dispute continues to unfold, the spirit of baseball is alive and 
well in minor league baseball and the 1994 Pacific Coast league 
champion Albuquerque Dukes are ready for the new season.
  Regardless of the outcome of the major league strike, the Albuquerque 
Dukes will continue to set the pace for well-managed professional 
baseball businesses in the country. The Dukes boast 8 straight years of 
300,000-plus in attendance, a record average gate for 1994, a waiting 
list for advertisers, and competitive teams every season.
  The Dukes' general manager and president Pat McKernan personifies the 
enthusiasm and devotion that prevails in the hearts of all baseball 
fans. By combining old-fashioned business sense and community support, 
Pat McKernan provides one of the most affordable family entertainment 
offerings in New Mexico.
  I recommend to all my colleagues the following article about Mr. 
McKernan and the Dukes which appeared in the Albuquerque Business Times 
on March 6, 1995. I believe all Members will be encouraged to see that 
baseball and business can coexist for the good of the community and the 
sport.
                      Alb.'s Booming Baseball Biz

                         (By Michael G. Murphy)

       Albuquerque.--Considered a gem--if not the gem--of Triple-A 
     diamonds in the rough, the Albuquerque Dukes are buffing the 
     bleachers, lifting new light towers, and making ready for 
     '95.
       Sometimes hidden by its on-field sports success, the local 
     slice of America's pastime ranks year after year as one of 
     the most prolific and well-managed professional baseball 
     businesses in the United States.
       This year--strike or settlement in the majors--stands to be 
     yet another winning season in terms of gate, advertising, and 
     general bang for entertainment buck.
       The Dukes' boast eight straight years of 300,000 plus in 
     attendance, a record average gate for '94, a waiting list for 
     advertisers, not to mention competitive teams every season.
       Business and the support of the community has been 
     wonderful, said President and General Manager Pat McKernan.
       Economic impact is not a useful phrase for him (``They make 
     those numbers up, don't they?'') but reluctantly, has led the 
     charge. He has been flanked by Ron Nelson, president of the 
     Uptown Association, and Cathy Leyendecker, board member of 
     the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association.
       Leyendecker has a different view for future projects, but 
     sided with Salazar and Nelson in a uniform front he will 
     point to the parent organization of the minors--the National 
     Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL)--which 
     does dabble in financial figures.
       According to a recent NAPBL model, an average Triple-A club 
     generates about $13 million a year in everything from hotels, 
     meals, travel, local goods and services, scouts, umpires, and 
     salaries.
       Now, that is a SWAG or Scientific Wild Ass Guess in NASA 
     parlance, said Neil Thueson, an associate planner with the 
     city of Albuquerque who also teaches a UNM market research 
     class in sports administration.
       ``It had some validity because it is based on kind of a 
     model, but it does not apply to any single city.''
       And that is one reason the city is embarking this year on 
     its own SWAG that will measure the impact of the Dukes all by 
     themselves, Theuson said.
       There is one given: the Dukes provide one of the most 
     affordable family entertainment offerings anywhere, and it 
     doesn't happen accidentally.
       ``McKernan deliberately does keep the prices down so that 
     it can appeal to the family. He really does understand what 
     he is doing. He understands the difference between the types 
     of pricing policies.''
       Thueson said he has tried over the years to explain 
     McKernan's expertise and success to UNM athletics, and how it 
     could benefit the university.
       ``We talked to them about overall profitability and tried 
     to get them to understand . . . but they never would.''
       McKernan, the barrel-chested and bearded business and 
     baseball guru prefers interesting conversation, which doesn't 
     include talk of pricing policies, corporate management, or 
     even how the Dukes will do this year (``I don't know,'' he 
     says).
       McKernan likes to ask your age, get an answer, then add, 
     ``Oh, you just look old.'' He also enjoys inquiring, ``Your 
     second marriage?'' and how you managed to screw up such a 
     promising job elsewhere to end up here.
       But the Dukes' resident optimist, wearing a ``what, me 
     worry?'' expression, did talk about how just about anything 
     that could happen with the strike should benefit the 
     organization, and all minor league ball for that matter.
       If the strike continues without replacements, it's the only 
     game in town.
       If the strike continues with replacements, it's arguably 
     going to be a better brand of the only game in town.
       And if the strike is settled, any residual fan resentment 
     at the major league level--live, on TV or radio--can only 
     boost Dukes' attendance, and the listening and occasional 
     viewing audience.
       It is a win-win-win situation, McKernan said.
       There is an ``understanding'' among baseball owners, major 
     league players, and the minor league players to make sure 
     minor leaguers don't endanger their future careers by getting 
     in the middle of the strike, McKernan said.
       Management has no intention of ``twisting any arms'' to try 
     to get Triple A players to become replacements, he said.
       ``They understand the dilemma. And we understand the 
     dilemma far more than the players' association.''
       If the strike continues, they will report to the Dukes, 
     probably right before the first game, April 6.
       There is one possible negative, and that has to do with the 
     chance that Congress, in screwing around with baseball's 
     federal anti-trust exemption, will accidentally repeal a 
     portion that allows major league financial support for the 
     minors.
       Still, McKernan, whose photo should be right next to laid-
     back in your Webster's, has not been losing any sleep. As he 
     said, it is not something he can do much about, so he is not 
     going to worry about it.
       His cluttered office includes the Optimists Creed on his 
     door, a Far Side calendar on his desk, a fish tank, and a 
     photocopied motto that the ``floggings will continue until 
     morale improves.''
       The Dukes enjoy phenomenal community support. Last year, 
     when they announced a ticket price increase of $1, local 
     media published the story with variations on the theme of 
     ``it's about time'' and still one of the best entertainment 
     values in town, a bemused McKernan said.
       It was the first price hike in eight years.
       In about four weeks, the minor league boys of summer will 
     strut their stuff in what promises to be an excellent and 
     perhaps record-setting year.
       Oh yeah, and the bottom line looks good again for the 
     successful business that is the Dukes.
       ``We do all right . . . we survive in spite of ourselves,'' 
     McKernan said.
     

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